My rule (generally)....if you don't take the top three TEs (Kelce, Kittle, Andrews) early then sit on the position until mid-late rounds where you can take a stab at a high upside player like Higbee, Hockenson, Fant, Engram etc.. Don't chase middling or "safe" TE earlier.
My other rule that I just ironically crapped on is if I draft QB early (Mahomes or Lamar only) then go TE late and vice versa. That Lamar/MarkAndrews stack was just to mouth wateringto pass on. I feel like drafting from the 1-spot, with all that territory between picks, I have to take as many "studs" regardless of roster composition.